{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

Lack of pitching, defense and clutch hitting still nothing to panic over for Florida Marlins

So the Marlins have lost their first series, and worst yet, to the dreaded Mets, who figure to be fighting back the Nationals for fourth place in the N.L. East.

Javier Vazquez was awful, the defense stunk and the hitting with runners in scoring position was non-existent.

Time to panic? Are they panicking in Boston? (Okay, bad example when you spend a zillion dollars and start 0-3.) But the point is, one series, three games, 159 remaining.
Relax.

“The first game is the first game, the first series is the first series,” catcher John Buck said. “It’s hyped up and blown out of proportion. That’s the way it is. … That’s the way it’s been in the history of baseball.”

Or, as Hanley Ramirez said.

“It’s okay. It’s early.”

If you want to worry about something, worry about the team’s health. Reliever Edward Mujica felt a little something in the back of his left knee when he reached down to pick up the ball following the play in which Emilio Bonifacio threw the ball off the backstop behind home plate.

Mujica came into the dugout after getting two more outs and was done.

“I talked to Edwin and said I didn’t want to lose two or three weeks,” Mujica said.

Mujica believes he will be fine, but the trend is disturbing, especially after a spring in which much of the focus was on the players who were not in the lineup. Mike Stanton (hamstring) in Game 1, Donnie Murphy (bruised wrist) in Game 2. Now Mujica?

As Edwin Rodriguez said, “We’re going to need 162 players.”

Sanches and Sanchez shine

Pitcher Brian Sanches helped save the bullpen somewhat, especially after Mujica’s injury, by pitching four hitless innings in which he struck out two and walked one. His previous long outing was 3.1 innings.

“Brian Sanches was outstanding,” Rodriguez said. “He was getting ahead in the count, pitching to contact.”

Sanches even swung the bat like Sanchez (Gaby) with a single in the fifth inning, his first big league hit in his five year career. Of course, it was just his sixth at bat.

Gaby is the hottest Marlin at the plate through the first weekend, collecting three more hits Sunday. He is hitting .462 (6-for-13) with three doubles.